UpScrolled’s founder says the social network has zoomed past 2.5M users

The social networking platform UpScrolled has surged past the impressive milestone of 2.5 million users, a significant achievement highlighted by the company's founder, Issam Hijazi, during the Web Summit in Qatar. Since its launch just six months ago, UpScrolled has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from 150,000 users at the beginning of January to over one million in just a few days, and now surpassing 2.5 million globally. Positioned as a blend of Instagram and X, UpScrolled aims to create an inclusive environment that welcomes a diverse array of voices. The platform prides itself on its commitment to freedom of expression, asserting that it does not engage in shadowbanning or censoring its users. During his speech, Hijazi criticized larger tech companies for unethical practices, particularly condemning their tendency to profit from user data and their selective censorship of content, especially regarding pro-Palestinian viewpoints. "They prioritize profit over user well-being, designing their platforms to keep users addicted without regard for mental health," Hijazi stated, emphasizing the need for ethical practices in the tech industry. Despite facing criticism for hosting explicit content, he reassured users that UpScrolled would implement community guidelines that comply with local laws, ensuring a safe environment for all. The company is currently in the process of assembling a team of experts to refine these guidelines and is actively incorporating user feedback into their development. While UpScrolled has not publicly disclosed any funding details, Hijazi noted a growing interest from potential investors. The surge in new users can be partially attributed to TikTok's recent ownership changes in the U.S., which saw a consortium of investors, including Silver Lake and Oracle, take control while ByteDance retained a minority stake. This transition has prompted many users to explore alternative social networks. Besides UpScrolled, another platform, Skylight, which operates on the AT Protocol, has also seen rapid growth, reaching 380,000 users shortly after the TikTok deal. Although these newer platforms have experienced an initial influx of users, sustaining this growth will depend on their ability to develop engaging features and foster a strong community. They will also need to establish effective moderation policies to navigate the complexities of user-generated content, a challenge that has been evident for existing platforms like Bluesky in recent years.